There is bad news for the United Kingdom and the United States of America that is directly related to their cyber security. Russian cyber security antivirus company Kaspersky is now stopping its service in the USA and UK. This is the first time that company is completely shutting down its services. The employees working in the US will now be unemployed, and the company has also started laying them off. In the United States, it is slowly packing up its bags. The company will no longer be able to sell any kind of cyber security software, antivirus, or VPN in the USA.
However, no cyber security company takes its business from any country without reason. This is done under the country’s policies and cyber security rules. USA wanted to collect the data from the company, which was collected by its users on Kaspersky. But keeping in mind the privacy of its users and to prevent user data from being stolen, the company clearly refused to give the data. Due to the risk to the USA’s cyber security, they have made it clear in their policies.
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The Russian company leaving the USA like this is not good for them financially and marketing wise. Because the company is famous all over the world for its best and top-quality antivirus, putting a sanction on it from such a country is not good for them. This will also affect the rest of the company’s customers. According to press news, in 2023, the company earned 721 million dollars from the USA, which has decreased by 4% compared to last year (2022), due to which the company is also facing financial difficulties. The company says that more than 2,40,000 companies use their antivirus. However, it is not known how many of them are USA-based.
Why was Kaspersky banned in the US?
Kaspersky is a Russian company, and the relations between America and Russia are not very good. America feels that the laws of the Russian government help Kaspersky in gathering intelligence information. Which is not good for the policies of the country. The company is sending all the secret data of America and all the details of internal affairs to Russia through the back door. It is spying on America’s cyber security and America’s intelligence system. America has completely banned Kaspersky by imposing sanctions on him for many reasons.
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Company is repeatedly refuting all these uncles and calling the American claims wrong. But American officials believe that company has relations with the Russian intelligence agency to whom he used to send American data. Some officials of the company have been accused of having links with Russian intelligence agencies, including the KGB and FSB. This has raised fears that the company could be used for espionage or cyberattacks against the US. Due to this, the US started banning Kaspersky in 2017 and has now completely shut it down. This ban has been imposed after an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Bureau of Industry & Security Report
According to the report of the US Bureau of Industry & Security (BIS), they have clearly refused the company to sell its products directly or indirectly in the US and to any American person. Kaspersky has been declared a national security risk. Apart from this, BIS has accused three more organisations, including AO Kaspersky Lab and OOO Kaspersky Group (Russia) and Kaspersky Labs Limited (UK), of helping Russia. Which also help and support Russia in its intelligence objectives.
After the action of BIS and the final decisions of the Office of Information and Communication Technology and Services (OICTS), the company will be unable to provide any new updates, and complete information about any kind of tax transaction can be seen on oicts.bis.gov/kaspersky.
In this regard, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has said
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to a whole-of-government approach to protecting our national security and outsmarting our adversaries.” “Russia has repeatedly shown that they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect US national security and the American people.
Today’s action, our first use of the Department of Commerce’s ICTS authorities, demonstrates Commerce’s role in supporting our national defense and shows our adversaries that we will not hesitate to take action when they pose a risk to the United States and its citizens using their technology.” “Whether you’re shopping online or sending emails, Americans need to know they can trust the safety and security of their devices”.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said
“The actions taken today are vital to our national security and will better protect the personal information and privacy of many Americans. We will continue to work with the Department of Commerce, state and local officials, and critical infrastructure operators to protect our nation’s most critical systems and assets.”
After continuous allegations and government investigations by the US, Kaspersky is now ready to leave the US completely. However, those who have already bought Kaspersky will not suffer any loss. They can use Kaspersky’s services, but they will not get to see any new updates.
